Swiss Visa Officer Thwarts Human Trafficking Scheme

NAIROBI, Kenya (AXADLE) – In a turn of events that reads like a thriller, a Swiss visa officer has unraveled a human trafficking operation involving Somali individuals who posed as government delegates to secure entry to Europe. This plan was linked to the upcoming 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) set for June 2025 in Geneva. The fraudulent scheme allegedly involved assistance from corrupt Somali officials, throwing a spotlight on governance issues.

The web of deceit was uncovered following meticulous investigations, revealing that those listed had no real ties to labor unions or the ILC. Names like Mahad Ahmed Mohamed, the Head of Operations at Premier Bank Ltd., and his sister, Maryan Ahmed Mohamed, emerged. According to a letter from the Somali Ministry of Foreign Affairs dated May 13, 2025, both were fraudulently included in the delegation.

Mahad, misrepresented as a labor unionist, is in truth a banker, flaunting credentials in Banking and Finance. One wonders, how could such a respected professional become entangled in this web of deceit? A source, aware of the situation, mentioned that Mahad allegedly bribed officials to secure himself and his sister onto this list, with the intention of disappearing upon arriving in Europe to claim asylum. It’s a tactic not uncommon among human traffickers.

Intervention from the Embassy

After a tip-off, the Somali Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the Swiss Embassy in Nairobi invalidated the fraudulent list. However, neither Mahad nor Premier Bank Ltd. responded to repeated email inquiries. Curiosity sparks — what does their silence convey?

The saga grows more intricate when noting the affiliations of SIMAD University, where Mahad studied. Co-owned by Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the university and Premier Bank Ltd. share stakeholders, including figures like Mahad Mohamed Salad, head of the national intelligence and a relative linked to Al-Shabaab. This connection begs further scrutiny into the institution’s links to trafficking.

Mohamed Osman, a trade unionist in Mogadishu, expressed concerns, highlighting Premier Bank Ltd. and some officials’ suspected roles in trafficking. Previously, young Somalis were smuggled only to later face ransoms in Libya. “We are relieved this network is exposed thanks to diligent media work,” said Osman. “But exposure alone isn’t enough. Accountability is indispensable.”

A Tragic Reminder

This revelation comes on the heels of a heart-wrenching tragedy: at least 20 Somali migrants recently drowned crossing the Mediterranean to reach Palma, a Spanish island. Their boat, helplessly adrift for days, led to the rescue of just two survivors. These survivors recounted how the youths, mostly from Puntland, paid traffickers hefty sums through services like Jubba Money Transfer, housed within Premier Bank Ltd.

A victim’s relative noted that such transactions often involve bank insiders, underscoring a pattern confirmed by Osman: “Traffickers collaborate with local banks like Premier Bank Ltd., shielded by the president’s powerful allies, making dismantling these networks incredibly challenging.”

Premier Bank Ltd. has faced allegations of money laundering and potential terror financing, especially linked to Nairobi’s real estate transactions. In another international move, the U.S. Treasury sanctioned Yemen Kuwait Bank in early 2025 for suspected terrorist funding. Its financial links with Premier Bank Ltd. raise concerns about Somalia’s banking sector being a possible channel for militant funding.

This investigation peels back layers of an intricate narrative, questioning governance and evoking reflection on the moral fabric binding Somali and international relations in such cases.

Why do respectable institutions and their leaders find themselves mired in such schemes? Perhaps the answer lies in the complex interplay of power, desperation, and opportunity.

Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring.